Columbus Lions announce 2014 schedule

The Columbus Lions will open the 2014 season on the road on March 30 at Harrisburg (Pa.).

The Lions, a member of the Professional Indoor Football League, announced their schedule for next season on Wednesday.

Columbus, which plays at the Columbus Civic Center, will have its home-opener on April 5 against Richmond.In the 12-game schedule, Columbus will play rival Albany three times, twice at home in a 15-day period, last-years PIFL champion Alabama three times and expansion-team Nashville twice.

The Lions will also play Richmond (Va.), Trenton (N.J.) and Lehigh Valley (Pa.).

The eight-team league is split into American and National conferences for the upcoming season.

Columbus, Albany, Alabama and Nashville are in the American, while Harrisburg, Richmond, Trenton and Lehigh Valley are in the National.

For the playoffs, each conference champion will host the runner-up from the other conference in a semifinal on July 5. The two winners will meet in the PIFL title game on July 12.

Albany won the first PIFL title in 2012 with Alabama winning last season.

The Lions missed the playoffs last season after making the postseason six straight years. They were 4-8 last season.Gone from the league this year are Knoxville and Louisiana. New teams are Trenton and Nashville.

The Lions will host Albany on April 11 and again on April 26. In between those games, they will go to Trenton.After the second Albany game, they will have two bye weeks.

Then Columbus will play a pair of road games: May 17 at Alabama and May 25, at Nashville.

The Lions follow that with a three-game homestead: May 31 vs. Lehigh Valley, June 7 vs. Alabama and May 14 vs. Nashville.

The season is finished with two games on the road: June 21 at Alabama and June 28 at Albany.

2014 LIONS SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 30 at Harrisburg 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 5 Richmond 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 11 Albany 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 19 at Trenton 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 26 Albany 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 17 at Alabama 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 25 at Nashville 3 p.m.

Saturday, May 31 Lehigh Valley 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 7 Alabama 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 14 Nashville 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 21 at Alabama 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 28 at Albany 7:30 p.m.

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